So, lets say that a certain 5er has a GVWR of 13000 lbs. and lets say that a TV is rated to tow 15,500 lbs. Subtract about 1000 lbs. from tow rating for people weight, fuel weight, hitch weight and supplies (14,500 lbs). Is the short/simple answer, yes, you can tow it? Is there a short/simple answer?
Now for real world. I own a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 HD CC 4x4 D/A. everything stock. I am kinda looking at a Jayco eagle 325 BHS with a GVWR of 13000 lbs. Will this truck/5er combination work?
2003 GMC Sierra 4x4 CC D/A
2007 Coachman Chaparral 269 BHS 5'er
prodigy brake controller, pullrite 14K superglide
Here's the formula:
ACTUAL weight of your truck INCLUDING the 1,000 lb. for people etc.
Subtracted from the trucks GVWR = PAYLOAD available for pin weight.
PIN for a 13,000 lb. 5th wheel will be between 2600 and 3200 lb.
Conclusion - you don't HAVE 2600 lb. available, let alone 3200 lb.
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles) Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
That number you gave for the towing limit is for a bumper pull trailer, not a fifth wheel.
Remember this and you can hardly go wrong.
20% of the Trailers GVWR will get you really close in most cases to the pin weight of a Fiver. So, in your example your pin weight will be right at 2800 pounds. Add to that the weight of the hitch 300 to 500 pounds and subtract your trucks weight in ready to camp configuration, (kids,dogs,firewood, tools, etc) and you will have a really good idea of how much the truck will weigh after hitching to the example trailer.
As a comparison, my 40 2500HD 4X4 ext cab D/A scaled ready to camp at 7500 pounds. That left me a scant 1800 pounds before I exceeded the manufacturers GVWR. My trailer hotched ready to go scaled 10,350 pounds and the truck scaled 10,500 pounds. A whopping 1300 pounds over the manufacturers GVWR. And I felt every pound of that weight while going down the road. personally I would not suggest ever trying it. Get a dually or get a smaller fiver.
OK, now 85-90 percent of the 2500's should be parked on the side of the road, as they are over weight! Why do you sell 2500's with the low CC????? Chris
My Rig
2001.5 2500 STD CAB AUTO SLT 4x4, CTD 4:10's, Bomb'd to Tow
2005 Cardinal 29WBLX.
Problem with GM diesel 3/4 tons - they can PULL a lot but they can't CARRY much relative to their tow capacity. The Crew-cab, diesel and 4WD adds around 1400# to the weight of the truck without a corresponding increase in GVWR.
To stay within manufacturer's GVWR your truck has an available payload around 2500#. That's pin weight, people, cargo, fuel, tools, hitch etc. The pin weight of the trailer alone will put you over.
How overloaded are you comfortable with?
* This post was
edited 05/06/09 02:33pm by kaydeejay *
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA, 52 gal Titan tank, Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin box, Multi-vex mirrors, TST TPMS.
Chris wrote: OK, now 85-90 percent of the 2500's should be parked on the side of the road, as they are over weight! Why do you sell 2500's with the low CC????? Chris
Low CC? Last time I looked a 2500# payload is a lot more than 3/4 ton!!
A base GM 2500HD (regular cab, gas, 2WD short box) has a payload around 3900#. It's the Crew-cab, diesel and 4WD that eat up around 1400# of that.
The rest of the chassis (axles, brakes etc) does not get beefed up just because the empty truck weight is increased, so the 9200# GVWR remains unchanged.
PS - Don't count my truck in that 85-90%. I'm between 200# and 400# under GVWR depending on how I load up. If my truck was 4WD I would be on the edge of overloaded to maybe 200# over.
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